The Map of Above, The Map of Below, by Gregory Hoskins and Gary Craig (2024)

1.

Providence LineIt was a broken priest that bound usTo our broken vowsBroken is how they found usAnd I'm still broken nowLet me lay it out for youSo the truth will shineOn what went downAt the edge of townOn Providence LineYou take yours and I'll take mineAnd we'll leave the rest all behindDip our memories in turpentineAnd watch the colors run downProvidence Line.The plans were laidThe bed was madeThe ghosts danced on and onWe did our bestI guess, I guess,For daughters and for sonIt was on that ribbon of dust and gravelWhere I learnedThere are some roads that we travelBy which we don’t returnYou take yours and I'll take mineAnd we'll leave the rest all behindDip our memories in turpentineAnd watch the colors run downProvidence Line.It was a broken priest that bound usTo our broken vowsBroken is how they found usAnd I'm still broken nowLet me lay it out for youSo the truth will shineSpeaking of truth,I know you’ve got yoursAnd, Darlin’, I got mine.You take yours and I'll take mineAnd we'll leave the rest all behindDip our memories in turpentineAnd watch the colors run downProvidence Line.What did you take to Providence LineWhat did you leave on Providence LineWhat did you doubt on Providence LineDid you believe on Providence LineWhat did you face on Providence LineWhat did you flee on Providence LineLet us rejoice, Providence LineAnd let us grieve.

2.

Sweet RedemptionI’m yearning, I’m churningMy sacred heart is burningWith each and every sunriseAnother shot, another stabAnother kick at the canFollow the truthor follow the lies.Sweet RedemptionSweet RedemptionSomeday you will be mineI’ll fall for you, crawl for you,stagger through my life for youand a touch of your lips so kind.Now, we’re all born as cleanas the blood of the lambWe get dirtied up on the wayBe you mysticBe you junkieBe you government flunkyEveryone travelsEveryone pays.Sweet RedemptionSweet RedemptionSomeday you will be mineI’ll fall for you, crawl for you,stagger through my life for youand a touch of your lips so kind.

3.

There Will BE Good DaysWell I wish I could say everything is going to be okI wish I was the kind of man who could get behind things that wayBut there's work to be one, and the devil to payThere’s not much that is sure and trueBut this I swear to youThere will be good daysThere will be good daysThere will be good daysAheadI wish I could say the stars will never fallThat money don't matter,And love conquers all.But these promises we makeSo easy in the light of dayJust as easy fail when the shadows crawlBut there will be good daysThere will be good daysThere will be good daysAheadIt's hard to hear you cry in the darkIt's hard to watch you get your scarsBut note how the tears pool around your heartSuperman and Jesus ChristHercules and Joan of ArcEveryone is tested by the fireIt's how we find out who we areBut there will be good daysThere will be good daysThere will be good daysAhead

4.

Come Over MeI have seen the sunset like this beforeMaking off with the day like a thief through the doorIf my companion lay near me on such a nightI’ll say, “Put a gun in the mouth of the day, baby,Put out the light.”Come on over here, come on over nowJust come over meLay your hands, say your vows over meGive me what I want, let it pour over meLa la la la la la la laJust come over me now.I am crippled by doubt in this house that is not my home.If I act, I act out of fear and fear alone.“I’ve got a suggestion,” my companion says,“Why, oh, why don’t you tryTo act out of love instead…And come over here…”Come on over here, come on over nowJust come over meLay your hands, say your vows over meGive me what I want, let it pour over meLa la la la la la la laJust come over me now.I have seen the sunset like this beforeMaking off with the day like a thief through the doorIf my companion lay near me on such a nightI’ll say, “Put a gun in the mouth of the day, baby,Put out the light.”And come over hereCome on over here, come on over nowCome over me...

5.

Feel Like A KingI feel like a king when I pay the phone billWhen a promise I’ve made is finally fulfilledI feel like a king when there’s cash in the vaultWhen the sh*t hits the fanAnd its clearly not my faultI feel like a kingWhen I detectEven the slightest hint of truthPass my lipsAnd I’ll cry,I’ll sing,Till I,Feel like a king beside you.I feel like a king when my lover’s breathComes quick and comes hard,In her little deathI feel like a king when I pray and when I’m heardWhen the word becomes flesh and the flesh becomes wordI feel like a kingWhen I commandThe legions of pleasureWith my own hand.And I’ll cry,I’ll sing,Till I,Feel like a king beside you.

6.

Mama's BoyOh, Mama’s BoyNeeds permissionTo enjoyA little kissin'He ain’t coy,He ain’t fishin'For sympathy,Not he.Oh, Mama’s BoyLeaves unspokenWords of love,Those simple tokensOf faith and trustThat can be brokenSo carelessly.But he's got a heart that's beatingAnd the notion he's been needingSome kind of something he ain't had beforeThen he'll be,Then we'll see,Mama’s Boy no more.

7.

8.

It's Always SomethingThere’s something hot about young fleshThere’s something cool about the clothesThere’s something moving in my middleThere’s something calling I should loatheThere’s something ageless in young loveThere’s something burning in my breastThere’s something freeing in our contractAnd stale beneath our breath.If it’s not one thing, then it’s anotherIt’s always something.There’s something lonely in a crowdThere’s something rich about the poorThere’s something fleeting in the concreteThere’s something locked about that doorThere’s something holy in the churchThere’s something selfish in my prayersThere’s something cruel about your mercyAnd cluttering your stairs.If it’s not one thing, then it’s anotherIt’s always something.

9.

p*rn StarsWell it's lights, camera. actionThe p*rn stars are workingThe director is vagueThe best boy is jerkingOffin the distanceAn old priest mumblesWords of consecrationWhile his congregation crumblesDownon the boulevardThe young, wild, and willingMake out, make time, make plansTo make a killing inThe nightair is filledWith the thrumming of wiresInvisible networksOn a background of starsShineon, JillianShine on, JackWe heard you hit the roadAnd you ain’t never coming back.Oh, Oh, Oh...here is a basem*ntWhere dreams go to dieConspiracy theoristsTrumpet the falling of theSkylarks at the bird feederCats on the groundIt's been ever thusOne the finder, one theFound—ations trembleMobs assembleChanting words of warThat's what freedom'sFor—tunes rise and fall andThrough it allWe act like we’ve neverSeen this all before.Oh, Oh, Oh...It's hard to have faithin the plans that we makeAnd the hearts we hold,and the risks we takeWhen we get out of bedon a bet someone madeTo see if we could get throughthe day unscathed.And I can't receive love,but I'm not into hateMy compass is shot, I can't locateThe room with the treasure,the door with the codeThe map of aboveThe map of below.

10.

I Will Find A Way To Let You DownI will find a way to let you downIf there is a way it will be foundI will do the crime without a soundI will find a way to let you downCover me with perfumeAnd the coolest clothesYou can cover me in your room,Still, my naked heart will knowI will find a way to let you downIf there is a way it will be foundI will do the crime without a soundI will find a way to let you downYou cannot blameThe innocent windFor whatever changeIt blows in.It's a cryin’ shameThat you pinnedYour hopesOn a dark horseWith no wingsI will find a way…

11.

SurgeryI called, you came.Concealing your nameRevealing by shadesThe rules of the game.SurgeryIs all that this Love can be.Your scalpel has been forgedIn the spark of a kissYour orders come in codeOn pages of mist.SurgeryIs all that this Love can be.Love,Is the onlyTrue agentof change.So, cut…Cut me deeply.And rearrange.SurgeryIs all that this Love can be.

released August 26, 2013

Gregory Hoskins
guitars, vocals, trumpet

Gary Craig
drums, percussion, vibraphone, bass

All songs by Gregory Hoskins
Arranged by Gary Craig and Gregory Hoskins
Produced by Gary Craig and Gregory Hoskins
Except "Surgery", Arranged and Produced by Gregory Hoskins and Hawksley Workman, additional production by Gary Craig.

Special Guests
Hawksley Workman
Colin Linden
Jerome Godboo
Lisa Hodgson and Colleen Hodgson
The Beggars Virtual Choir

Recorded at:
Found Sound, Toronto, ON, by David Travers Smith
Revolution Recording, Toronto, ON, by Jason Dufour
HawksleytownV, Huntsville, ON, by Brad Kilpatrick
Signal Path, Almonte, ON, by Ken Friesen
The Boogie Barn, Guelph, ON, by G.H. and G.C.

Mixed by Ken Friesen at Signal Path, Almonte, ON.
Mastered by Joao Carvalho at Joao Carvalho Mastering, Toronto, ON.